Asia Cup, 1985-86

Gerry Vaidyasekera

The Second Asia Cup tournament, for the John Player Leaf Trophy, was contested in Sri Lanka by the host country, Pakistan and Bangladesh. India the 1983-84 champions, withdrew from the tournament and their place was taken by New Zealand, who did not participate in the Asia Cup itself but played in a concurrent Triangular Tournament, also sponsored by John Player, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh won a place in the tournament as winners of the South-East Asian Cricket Conference Tournament which had been played in Dacca in February 1984.

For the first time in a country which was a full member of the ICC, neutral umpires stood in the matches. H.D.Bird and D.R. Shepherd of England, Mahboob Shah of Pakistan, and two local umpires, H.C.Felsinger and P.W.Vidanagamage, made up the five-man panel.